italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies
Call for Papers for Romance Studies Colloquium: Social Theory & Fiction
2009 ROMANCE STUDIES COLLOQUIUM ON “STORYTELLING” CALL FOR PAPERS
PANEL TOPIC: Social Theory and Fiction
I am organizing a panel for the 2009 Romance Studies Colloquium on "Storytelling"
hosted by Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, October 1-3, 2009.
This panel examines the relationship between 19th-century social theory and fiction of all
types. What are the differences or similarities between telling social, empirical, or
scientific stories and fictional ones? The panel investigates both how the social theory of
Thomas Malthus (population, reproduction), William Godwin (social optimism,
utopianism), and Charles Darwin (evolution) influenced 19th-century fiction as allegory,
as well as the less-studied relationship between social theory and fiction in the works of
authors who engaged in both types of writing. While social theory had an widespread
influence on literature in general taking up residence, for example, in Gothic novels as
allegories for the monstrous and the dystopian, some social texts were written by authors
who, although they were budding (or repressed) social theorists themselves, gained
popularity only for their works of fiction. For example, can the fictional works of Italian
authors Carlo Collodi and Ugo Tarchetti, The Adventures of Pinocchio and Fosca, be read
as conversant with their little-regarded, social commentary about hunger and famine?
Papers may focus on literature of the Romance languages of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Various critical and theoretical approaches and methodologies, including cross-cultural
viewpoints, as well as readings of noncanonical texts, are welcomed. Conference papers
must be presented in English.
Proposals for individual twenty-minute papers (300 words in English) should be sent in
electronic form by February, 15, 2009 to:
David Del Principe [log in to unmask]
Please indicate your audio-visual requirements.
A selection of peer-reviewed essays (c. 6,000 words) based on papers given at the
colloquium will be published in the journal Romance Studies.
[http://www.maney.co.uk/search?fwaction=show&fwid=212].
Please note that abstracts and conference papers must be presented in English, but
submissions for publication may be written in English, French, Italian or Spanish.
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